Communication Studies, Department of
Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Accessibility Remediation
If you are unable to use this item in its current form due to accessibility barriers, you may request remediation through our remediation request form.
First Advisor
Jody Koenig Kellas
Committee Members
Jordan E. Soliz, Angela Palmer-Wackerly
Date of this Version
7-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Citation
A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts
Major: Communication Studies
Under the supervision of Professor Jody Koenig Kellas
Lincoln, Nebraska, July 2026
Abstract
The current study explored the stories and reflections of 33 emerging adult women who made sense of their empathic support provider (ESP) identity in the context of female friendships. From the standpoint of the retrospective storytelling heuristic, within communicated narrative sense-making theory, participants told stories about their ESP identity, including how they provide support to others and reflect on the benefits of drawbacks of serving in this role (CNSM, Koenig Kellas, 2022). Under Proposition 1 of CNSM theory, meanings, values, and beliefs (MVBs) that ESP women expressed in this role were depicted as key takeaways gathered. Findings illuminated how ESP women communicate social support by listening, and by providing emotional, informational, tangible, and network support. ESP women support their friends in times of personal crises, romantic relationship turmoil, family turmoil, and female friendship struggles. When supporting female friends through experiences that they perceived as positive to them, they viewed their ESP role as impactful, rewarding, and one that required empathy. However, when supporting female friends through experiences that they perceived as negative to them, this role took a significant toll on their health and well-being, friendships, and capacity to convey empathy. Participants also shared how their ESP identity was one that they embrace, live by, and can’t imagine life without. These findings reveal how storytelling provides a rich means to understand an ESP identity from, how empathy plays a crucial role in conveying social support to female friends in times of need, and how ESPs navigate balancing the empathy they give to themselves and others. The implications and future directions are also discussed as they pertain to research on storytelling, social support, and empathy.
Advisor: Jody Koenig Kellas
Included in
Gender and Sexuality Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Health Communication Commons, Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons
Comments
Copyright 2026, Emma R. Eslinger. Used by permission